Fishing Shacks

Edward Mitchell Bannister made this evocative oil painting, "Fishing Shacks," at an undetermined date. Bannister, a Black artist working in late 19th century America, often depicted landscapes with a serene, contemplative quality. Here, the scene of modest, weather-beaten structures is rendered with a soft, impressionistic touch. Bannister was associated with the Barbizon school whose emphasis on painting en plein air encouraged direct engagement with the landscape. The Barbizon school rejected the formal academic style that dominated the European art institutions. Bannister’s involvement in the Providence Art Club also afforded him exhibition opportunities that challenged racial barriers in the art world. To fully appreciate Bannister’s work, we can consult exhibition records, period publications, and biographical sources. We might then consider how this painting reflects Bannister’s personal experiences as well as the broader social and cultural landscape of his time.